The Green Party has made overtures to the trade unions a day after Labour’s Ed
Balls was jeered by activists at the TUC’s annual conference.

Mr Balls, the shadow chancellor, was booed on Tuesday after telling delegates that he supported the freeze on public sector pay.

Yesterday the Greens’ new leader Natalie Bennett offered to work with the unions, who traditionally provide key financial backing to Labour.

Welcoming a keynote speech by outgoing TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber, in which he called for an Olympic-style national crusade to climb out of recession, she said her party hoped to join with the body to re-shape British politics.

She said austerity was not working and the congress was “right to call for investment in our future”.

Miss Bennett said: “We in the Green Party want to work with the TUC to change Britain’s political direction. We will ensure decent levels of pay and benefits for all those who need them.

“The Olympics and Paralympics showcased the UK’s diversity, talent and determination, and their legacy should be to build a better future for all.”

Last week, Miss Bennett accused Labour of “failing to offer a real alternative” to the Coalition. She claimed the Greens, who currently have one MP, Caroline Lucas, were now the only real opposition.

In her first party conference speech as leader, the former journalist argued that the party would strengthen trade unions, reduce carbon emissions, and introduce a “living wage” and improved benefits.

This week, the TUC conference supported a move to consider a general strike as part of coordinated action against the Coalition’s austerity policies.

Unions are gearing up for a fresh wave of industrial action in the coming months over measures such as job, pay and pension cuts.

Mr Balls received polite applause on Tuesday when he attacked the Coalition’s “failed” economic policies but it turned to heckling when it became clear he would not change his mind about backing public sector pay restraint.

Yesterday, David Cameron told MPs that the trade unions “provide a threat to our economy” and said those threatening a general strike had provided £12 million to Labour since Ed Miliband became leader.